SGDRV@M Reg No: 17973U Official Publication of the Rotary Club of Melbourne South Inc Issue 2633 30th March 2007 The RCMS Car by Graham Lockwood Members will recall that on Change-Over night 2003 I recounted the story of the Club car. It is perhaps appropriate at this Grand Prix season that I recount an updated version of that story Members will recognize their association and that of past legends of the Club in this historical activity of Club fellowship, and when their name is mentioned please contribute a Gold coin necessary for the on-going maintenance of the car in that great museum of old cars in the sky. In the R.C.M.S. Charter year of 1952, its inaugural President and papermaking identity, Jock Andrews, presented to the Club to mark the occasion his most valued possession: a 1936 BENNET BERLOWITZ Canardly 8 cylinder sedan for use in Club outings, and for representa- tion in the D980 (as it was then known) annual car rally. It was the BOLDEN olden of the Dis- trict. Such motoring past-times were in those days a popular Sunday FROHLICH amongst the Rotary genteel of Melbourne. The Club driver for the District rally was that well-known Royal Auto and M.C.C. member and cricket identity, one SEBASTIAN VALENTINE AXUP, who many said would one day make a century for the Club—and did.. Upfront with him in the Canardly was former international stock car racing identities PIERRE NATHAN from France and the well known Russian émigré ALEXANDROV T’SEBERG. The car had beautiful CROMIEd fenders, door handles supplied by McEWANS and HARRISON lights which frequently failed but the supplier refused to replace. It also had LEHMANN drive and BAGNARA exhaust systems, both never heard of before—or since, for that matter.. This model was also known for its ROBBINS heat exchanger and so-called advanced DUNN air-conditioning system which, unfortunately, was subject to continual breakdown and of great expense to the Club. The car was beyond its time in many other having the revolutionary STURROCK auto steering device which allowed the driver hands free for other things when the opportunity presented. GUEST SPEAKERS LAST WEEK. Guest Speaker: Fiona Rigney - “Indigenous Health Scholar” THIS WEEK. Guest Speaker: Margaret Hellard - “Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll”. Chair: Graham Symon NEXT MEETING (13th April): Guest Speaker: Dick Goss - “Emerging Issues in Local Communities” Chair: David Graham Luncheon Host for this week: Peter Troedel Luncheon Host for April 6: No meeting - Good Friday Luncheon Host for April 13: Graham Symon Luncheon Host for April 20: Jeff Sturrock If unable to carry out the duties of host, please arrange a replacement The RCMS car by Graham Lockwood (continued) It also and boasted a road navigation system with NORTON anti virus protection but cost the Club winning the District rally on several occasions, as it invariably headed in the WONG direction at the outset of each journey taking a circuitous route and finishing at a place called Burwood (a destination later made famous by Mercedes owned by the Club President in 2003 with its modern G.P.S. system. Because of this it was eventually found necessary to have a navigator, the well-known insurance broker John Smith [before he added the hyphenated name of WESTON. It was later shown he was incompetent and needed an assistant to READ the road map. The description of the car is complete with the Greek SERENT duco made all the more recognizable with the BERRY tree droppings where it was PARKERed at the then Clubs meeting place at the South Melbourne Town Hall. The driving team also included with that illustrious Italian model Signora BARBARA COMINO who it was rumoured last year to have been one of Fidel Castro’s love children. It has since been discovered however that there was an error in translation of this advice from Cuba and it is now understood that she was in actual fact his mistress. As with all rally events, a support team was necessary, and this included a COOK, as well as the famous SYMON the Pieman with bread being donated by that firm MILLER, BAKER and WHITE, of GRAHAM Street, Port Melbourne. Of course, CAMPBELL’s soup was always in- cluded in the repast as was haggis from DUNBARs of Scotland. Catering for the midday des- tination check and refuel luncheon was superbly done by Paul of MONRO’s. Sponsors for the rally were the well known shop opportunists RODSTED, STONE and LOW- COCK who are now believed, after all this time to being investigated by A.S.I.C. for unfair trading. Car rally events were farewelled by the Salvation Army Band featuring Major Smith on the Tamborine and the lithesome Can-Can girls of yesteryear JOANNA DANIELS and ROBINA BUCCHERI, briefly attired in the Club colours of red and WHITE with the latter colour of which they delighted in freely displaying with cries of “IVERSON see you tonight” and “bring home the ABBEY Cup” - as the rally trophy was known. The District rally was organised by the Port Melbourne station master, Herr CROWTHER with the time-keeper being the vehicle broker and time management consultant, LORETTA PAV- LOVIC. On Club outings, in deference to the Canardly’s vintage, the route chosen usually avoided steep GRADIEnts and QUARRIEs and was one that enabled to STUMBLE along with mem- bers TROEDELing the Club song. A good time was always enjoyed by Club members on these outings. Well, that’s the FINNEY of the story of the Club car and so its time to lock up with LOCK- WOOD. GUEST SPEAKER - FIONA RIGNEY - “INDIGENOUS HEALTH SCHOLAR” Fiona Rigney was awarded the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund - Indigenous Health Scholar- ship in 2006 (under the sponsorship of the Rotary Club of Melbourne South) to complete the Bachelor of Social Work degree at the University of Melbourne. Fiona is a Ngarrindjeri woman who grew up in Adelaide and was raised by her Grandmother, a strong and proud Ngarrindjeri elder. She spoke glowingly of the strong and positive influence of her grand- mother on her life. After completing her first year of studies at the University of South Australia, Fiona transferred to the University of Melbourne where she completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology & Political Science. She is now in her final year of a Bachelor of Social Work degree at the University of Melbourne. In her presentation, Fiona spoke about some of the issues she believes have affected the current status of Indigenous Australians today. She argued that the impact of colonialism in Australia has had an adverse affects on indigenous people socially, politically and economically. Today, whilst many Australians are living longer and enjoying an improved quality of life, the health of Indigenous Austra- lians has remained static, and in some regions of Australia worsened. For example, the life expectancy of indigenous people is around 20 years less than non-indigenous Australians. This, in combination with other factors including limited access to resources, lack of adequate housing as well as other socio-political issues has contributed to the poor health status of many Indigenous Australians. Fiona stated that she hopes that in the future she will be able to make a positive contribution towards improv- ing the life chances and opportunities for indigenous people. Aside from keeping busy with her studies, Fiona recently completed a placement at St. Vincent’s Hos- pital as a Social Work Student. She spent time completing psycho-social assessments in the haema- tology and cardiology wards and, obviously, enjoyed her work immensely. Fiona also has involvement with the local Indigenous community, and has been spent time on the Vic- torian NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islander Day of Celebration) committee. The committee makes an important contribution to the community in striving for reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians, recognises the struggles of indigenous people, and celebrates indigenous achievements. With the funding received from the Rotary Scholarship, Fiona has been able to purchase a laptop and to afford her course text books. Fiona stated that she has done exceptionally well in her studies gain- ing H1 class average and thanked the Club for the support with her scholarship. We look forward to seeing more of Fiona. NOTICES The Entertainment™ Book is your guide to the best restaurants, hotel accommodation, attractions, sports and leisure activities... all with 25% to 50% off or 2-for-1 offers. Plus, new this year, My Bookings™... Compare rates, check availability and book your accommodation on-line. 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